Shifting the goalpost away from Hindutva, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition for being soft on corruption and national security.
Launching the election campaign of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Meerut, he said, “Those who have looted the country’s money will have to repent. I will ensure that those who have grabbed your money will have to return it.”
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He pointed out how the corrupt were making the rounds of courts during his tenure. “They are targeting me but I am not afraid.” The 2024 election, he said, would be between those who want to save the corrupt and those who want to hold the dishonest to account. “It is not just the election to form a government but it is going to be a vote for a developed nation and third largest economy,” he declared.
Underscoring the progress made in developing a modern infrastructure, he said the world’s confidence in India had grown in the past ten years.
Attempting to turn the Kachchatheevu controversy into a national security issue, Mr. Modi charged the Congress and the INDIA bloc for compromising the integrity of the country. Without naming Sri Lanka or Indira Gandhi, he described the late Prime Minister’s government’s acceptance of Sri Lankan sovereignty over the disputed island in 1974 as an anti-national act. “They amputated an arm of mother India and we continue to pay the price for it.”
He said when fishermen of southern States go near the island, their boats are confiscated and they are arrested. “Parties like the DMK that are partners of the Congress keep mum. Can they be trusted with the country’s unity,” he asked.
Performance report
Presenting his 10-year report card, Mr. Modi said his government had delivered on promises such as the construction of the Ram Temple, abrogation of Article 370, and a strong law against ‘triple talaq’, all of which were considered impossible by previous regimes.
A big chunk of his speech was devoted to how his government had worked to strengthen women through the Mudra scheme and Drone Didi initiative and promised to create three crore Lakhpati Didis if voted to power. He underlined how his government has removed 10 crore fake beneficiaries from the rolls, saving ₹2.5 crore.
Holding the event in a region that was the centre of the farmers’ agitation during the NDA’s second innings, Mr. Modi said his government was working to turn the sugar belt into an energy belt by augmenting ethanol production.
Chaudhary connect
The rally was designed as an event to mark the Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. Striking an emotional chord, Mr. Modi started his speech with the traditional “Ram Ram” and later recalled how the speech of “my younger brother Jayant Chaudhary” was obstructed by the Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha when he wanted to make a statement on “Chaudhary sahib“ getting the Bharat Ratna. “An attempt was made to insult him. People of the region will not forget it,” he said.
Chaudhary Jayant Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal joined the NDA after the honour and on Sunday, shared the stage with the Prime Minister for the first time.
Mr. Singh was seated next to BJP’s Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Balyan whom the RLD held responsible for destroying the social amity during the Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013. The RLD chief kept his address limited to his grandfather and said how the present government echoed the strong anti-corruption stance of the former Prime Minister. “When today the money reaches directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries, it reflects the integrity that Chaudhary Sahib worked for in governance.”
He told the crowd that in his brief interaction with Mr. Modi, he found that he had farmers’ interest on top of his mind.
Earlier Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government had provided a curfew and riot-free administration in the State. “Instead of curfew, we have kavad (yatra) now,” he said and ended his speech with the single chant of “Jai Shree Ram”.
Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal Sonelal, Sanjay Nishad of Nishad Party, and Om Prakash Rajbhar of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party were present on the stage.
While many praised the Modi-Yogi rule for providing better law and order, food for the hungry and control over Muslim assertion, others felt disappointed as changes in the Agniveer Scheme were not promised and work on the Sports University in Meerut whose foundation was laid by the Prime Minister has not started yet. Mange Ram, a farmer from Mawana said, “I thought with Jayant by his side, Modi would promise loan waiver to farmers.”
